Electric switch.



C. G. NEWBURN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 00w. 2, 1911.

1,103,529, Patented July 14,1914

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UNITED STATES PATEN T- OFFICE.

CHARLES CI IIFORD NEWBURN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, MZESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO FRANK B. COOK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and has a number of objects and advantages in View.

My invention has for one of its objects the rovision of a construction including circult controlling springs thatare completely, assembled in a unitary structure and, as such a unitary structure, are removably secured to a support.

My invention has for another of its objects the provision of a switch in the form of a key, the plunger of the key being provided with a plate structure surrounding the shank of the plunger and interposed.

between the plunger head and the wedging portion ofthe key, this plate being split into relatively movable sections to enable the ready withdrawal of the plunger.

My invention also contemplates the provision of improved plunger restoring means as will later appear.

My invention in all of its aspects will be fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing a plurality of key switches constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. '3 is a view in elevation, partially in section, taken in a direction at right angles to the direction in which Fig. 2 is taken; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a. part of the structure; Fig. 5 is a 'sectional view through a mounting bar or plate that is employed to support the spring mechanism of the switches, a portion of a key plunger being illustrated in elevation and in association with a restoring spring; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a mounting block for carrying the switch springs as the bottom of a washer that preferablyen- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 14 1914 Application filed October 2, 1911.

Serial No. 652,370.

ters into the construction; and Fig. 8 is an enlargedside elevation of such Washer.

Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughout the different figures.

My invention as illustrated in the drawing has been adapted to that class of switches known as intercommu'nicating keys employed in telephone ractice' and the keys, as illustrated, are mechanically interrelated so that theoperation of one will cause the restoration of any companion key that has not been previously restored. The invention, however, is not to be limited to its embodiment in intercommunicating keys nor in fact is it to be limited to inter-related keys since the invention finds its full embodiment in a single key or switch structure irrespective of the association of such switch structure with another switch structure.

The framework of the switching mechanism includes end plates 1, a distance piece 2 between the lower portions of the end plates and a sectional top plate uniting the upper ends of the end plates and secured to the turned top portions of the end lates by means of screws 3. The top plate is divided into three sections 4, 5 and 6, the middle section being provided with recesses 7 that margin the longitudinal edges of such middle section and which recesses are open at these longitudinal edges, when the outer top plate sections are removeid, to permit the key plunger shanks 8 to be withdrawn laterally ofthe plate section 5 when it is desired to remove and insert such key plunger shanks whereby the'assembly and disassembly of the parts are greatly simplified. I have shown six keys, three keys upon each side of the central plate section 5, the longitudinal edges of this plate section thus each having three recesses 7 each recess receiving a plunger shank 8. The outer walls of the recesses 7 are aliorded by the marginal plate sections 4 and 6. As the invention is illustrated, the recesses 7 act as guides for the plunger shanks 8, though I do not wish to be limited to this characteristic. Each plunger is provided at its upper end with a key button 9 and at an intermediate portion thereof with a switch spring actuating and wedging body 10 which, in the embodiment of .the invention illustrated, is of insulating material. The portion 11 of each plunger lying below the spring actuating part 10 is in sliding lit with an aperture provided vertically through the top horizontal ledge 12 projecting at right angles to a mounting plate 2. This mounting plate is provided with a second horizontal ledge 14 located below and spaced apart from the ledge 12, a recess 15 being formed in the ledge 14 and receiving the lower end of a key restoring coiled spring 16, there being open space between the ledges to render the spring readily accessible. The upper end of the bore of the spring 16 receives the reduced extension 17 of the key shank 8, the upper end of the spring 16 resting against the annular shoulder that is afforded by the lower end of the shank portion 11.. The lower end of the shank portion 17 is chamfered or made conical so that the coils of the spring 16 are maintained in alinement, these coils riding over the lower conical 'end of the shank portion 17 in the event of tendency on the part of said coils to depart from their proper alinement. The restoring coiled spring surrounds the reduced end of the shank throughout the length of this reduced end.

The mounting plate 2 is transversely recessed or slotted at its lower marginal portion to receive the extensions 18 of mounting blocks 19, these mounting blocks carrying the circuit controlling springs or elements 20 in any well known or convenient manner, these mounting blocks having one or more springs according to the functions that the mechanism is to serve. In the switching mechanism shown the two springs carried by each mounting block are thrown into contact at their upper ends when the associate plunger is depressed. As illustrated, each extension 18 is provided with a pair oi blocks 19 and each block carries a pair of springs, but it is obvious that one of these blocks is of mechanical importance (whether or not it supports springs) in its association with other blocks that do carry springs. The extension 18 is of a length, measured by the distance between the blocks 19 that it joins, that is substantially equal to the thickness of the mounting plate, this extension 18 preferably substantially conforming in its dimensions to the dimensions of the slot in the mounting plate that'receives it. The blocks 19 extend longitudinally of the mounting plate beyond the extension 18 so that the withdrawal of the blocks 19 through the slots that receive the-extension 18 is.

prevented. The mounting block and mounting plate are thus provided with engaging members of a joint between which members relative movement is prevented by the mere engagement of such members, except in a single direction, a vertical direction. Displacement. of the mounting blocks downwardlyin a vertical direction is prevented by means of a washer 21 through which a.

holding screw 22 is passed into the bottom of the mounting plate 2. Where pairs of mounting blocks 19 are arranged in close proximity, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 4, a single holding washer 21 is made common to two pairs of adjacent mounting blocks and is elongated so that a single screw 22 will be effective in holding the elongated washer in engagement with such mounting blocks. The central portions of the long sides of the washer are provided with screw head receiving recesses 22 whereby the washer may readily be positioned and be held from longitudinal displacement. The top of the washer is chamfered at the ends of such washer,-as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8, so that the mounting block extensions 18, which desirably project slightly below the mountin plate 2, as also do the blocks 19, may be rmly engaged by the washer so that the mounting blocks and mounting plates are maintained in rigid connection. \Vhere these springs are to be insulated from the mounting blocks, the strips of insulation that are employed are desirably extended downwardly upon each side of the washer 21, as indicated at 21 so that the washer, if accidentally out of position, cannothave electrical contact. with the springs.

The mounting plate 2 is secured at its ends tothe end plates 1 by the end screws 23, 24. If it should .be desired to remove a pair of mounting blocks 19, together with the associate parts that are combined therewith to form a switch structure, either the screws 23 or the screws 24 are removed. The screw 22 is loosened to permit the corresponding washer 21' to be moved out of engagement with the pair of mounting blocks 19 that is to be displaced and the screws 3 that hold the outer top plate section adjacent to the switch that is to be displaced are removed whereafter the plunger key of the switch to be displaced may be engaged to swing the mounting plate 2 upon the screws 23 or 2 1 that remain in position whereafter the corresponding pair of mounting blocks 19 may be moved downwardly from the mounting plate 2 until the mounting blocks have become separated from the mounting plate and the springs carried by the mounting plates are removed with their mountingblocks as a unitary structure, In this operation the springs are bodily separated from their associate plunger, which plunger is readily removed owing to its displacement from the top plate section 5. The spring 16 of the switching mechanism is not displaced from the mounting plate 2, the upper end of the spring following the plunger upwardly a short distance, this upper end of the spring 16 engaging the lower face of the ledge 12, whereby the spring 16 is held in position to receive the associate plunger when it is reinserted. If it is desired to remove the springs without removing the plunger the mountin' plate 2 and the top plate structure nee not be displaced, it only being nec-' essary to reposition the Washer as has been described, whereupon the spring structure may be removed.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction illustrated-es changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the followin g 1. A switch key including a plunger having a shank provided with a reduced end portion which is ehamfered or 'cone shaped at 1ts free extremity and a plunger restorin coiled spring surrounding the'reduced en n? 'ortion throughout the length of such reuced end (portion and engaging the shoulder afiorde b the contiguous portion of the plunger shan the chamfered end of the plun er being initially, received within the coile spring and facilitatin the insertion of the plunger within the spring bore.

2. A switch key including a plunger; a restoring coiled spring against the force of which the plunger is to be operated, said plunger having a shoulder for engaging the spring; and two ledges having open space between and between which ledges the spring that the plunger may is interposed and may there readily beaccessible and which serve to hold the spring in position when the plunger is removed so readily be reengaged with the spring, one of these ledges being recessed to receive the adjacent end of the coiled spring to position it when the plunger is removed.

3. A switch structure including a mounting block for, a circuit controlling element and a mounting plate for the mounting block, said mounting plate having a slot while said mounting block has an extension entering said slot for the purpose of holding the mounting plate and block together;

and a block complemental to the aforesaid substantially conforming in dimensions to.

the dimensions of the slot in said mounting plate.

5. A switch structure including a mounting block for a circuit controlling element and a mounting plate for the mounting block, said mounting plate having a slot while said mounting block has an extension entering said slot for the purpose of holding the mounting plate and block together; a block complemental to the aforesaid mounting block, said extension uniting said blocks, the mounting plate being received between the blocks, the aforesaid extension substantially conforming in dimensions to the dimensions of the slot in said mounting plate; and a holding device secured to the mounting plate and en aging the mounting block structure to hol it in fixed relation to the mounting plate.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this thirtieth day of September A. D., 1911.

' Witnesses:

E. L. WHITE, G. L. ORAGG.

CHARLES CLIFFORD NEWBURN.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for he cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

